Karen Demirchyan

Karen Demirchyan (April 17, 1932 – October 27, 1999) was an Armenian (and Soviet Union) communist and later independent politician, Armenian Communist Party first secretary from 1974 to 1988. Soon after his reemergence into active politics in independent Armenia in the late 1990s, he became speaker of the Armenian parliament in 1999. Demirchyan was elected first secretary of the Armenian Communist Party in November 1974, effectively the boss of Soviet Armenia. Two years later he also became chairman of the Armenian Supreme Soviet. He later formed the People's Party, teaming up with defence minister Vazgen Sargsyan to form the Miasnutyun (Unity) alliance to contest the May 1999 parliamentary elections. Demirchyan was overwhelmingly elected speaker in June 1999, four months before he, Sargsyan and other senior politicians were assassinated.